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Running Hot

There’s a reason places like Louisiana and Saudi Arabia aren’t distance-running hotbeds, so to speak. Distance-running performance starts to decline when you’ve lost as little as 2 percent of your bodyweight to dehydration. That’s sweating away only 3 pounds for a 150-pound runner, which can easily happen in less than an hour’s run. Those of us who are heavy sweaters can lose much more, setting off a downward spiral of shallow breathing, soaring heart rate, and dramatic slowing. Take it from someone who once went from 130 to 121 pounds during a two-hour July run: Despite the long hours of daylight and the joy of not having to bundle up to brave the elements, maintaining high-quality running can be toughest in the summer.

For overall consistency, the challenge isn’t so much getting out the door on any given day. It’s summer, after all, and it’s almost always pleasant to step outside. The challenge is more keeping on top of how drained running in the heat can leave you so that you do more than muddle through until the first crisp fall morning.

: Slison Wade